Author's Note: So this is when you might finally find out what Hermione's heritage is. When I write stories I kind of have a general idea of the direction to where it's gonna go but all the finer points I don't so really every time I write a chapter it's hit or miss. Nonetheless there is an endgame to this story. But because I lack organization I don't exactly know how long this story will be. What I mean is how many chapters. It could be 5 or it could be 80, who knows. Anyways without further adieu.

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters, though I wish I did. ~1stSoulVamp

IN OUR DARKEST MOMENTS

Chapter 4: Found

A few days later after they had all been made aware of the prophecy an eagle owl flew into the kitchen window of Malfoy Manor.

"Bellatrix! Bella!" Narcissa called out as she raced to the older witch's bedroom on the second floor. "Draco got back to me. I just received his letter!" She says coming up the stairs in the rush.

The doors at the hall slammed open as the witch in question stepped out of her room at the fuss her younger sister was making. "This better be good. I've been woken too damn early." True to her word the old witch was still in her nightgown and had yet to change. She ushered Narcissa into her room where she waved her wand to close her door with a loud crack.

"Here's the letter." Narcissa said, handing over the valuable information.

Bellatrix read her nephew's neat handwriting. A trait associated with all Blacks even though he was half Malfoy.

Mother,

I'm glad you told me of the prophecy. Now I am sure the girl my Aunt is to pine after is the mudblood who was sorted in Slytherin, as I said in my previous letter. You're looking for a girl named Hermione Granger. She's every bit of a Slytherin except she lacks the pureblood family. But if the prophecy reigns true, then she's not muggleborn at all. I have no idea of her past. These past days I've been trying to get closer, ever since you've alerted me of this current predicament. She's not interested.

I don't know much of her past but I have half of Slytherin watching out for her safety. She is a little cold towards everyone though I fear life has not been kind. In first year I remember Pansy telling me she cried most nights due to nightmares. What those nightmares are? I don't know. I will try to get close to the girl. Maybe Professor Snape can join the fray and find out more. He is Head of Slytherin after all. Unfortunately I think she's closer with McGonagall. I fear that our dear Headmaster is gonna win the girl if we don't do something soon. Not to mention, she's friends with that Potter boy and his Weasel side-kick. I'll keep trying. Eventually she'll have to warm up right?

Regards,

Draco

Bellatrix nodded as she received more information from the letter. "He was right to keep an eye on her. Let's hope he's right and she is the girl mentioned in the prophecy. We cannot fail."

Narcissa decided to leave the letter with Bellatrix in case she deducted it for days on end like her older sister always did. She was after all the brightest witch of her age. She wondered how they were gonna ever get the girl to come to their side. It was clear from Draco's letter that she was more buddies with Gryffindor than Slytherin, her own house. If Draco fails to get close to her, they may lose their only shot. It only made Narcissa even more worried to know that it had to be Draco to get her to come here, at least for a parlé with Bellatrix. Her son was right in the middle of things. He's always had a knack of putting himself in danger almost as much as the Potter boy. If Draco failed the punishment would be severe for her family. But she also knew there was no way Bellatrix could even get past the wards of Hogwarts without alerting the Headmaster and McGonagall.

"Bella, I'll write to Draco. He shall continue his efforts to befriend but this girl is coming to stay with us for Christmas if all goes well. Do your best to prepare." Narcissa turned and left the room. Bellatrix looked shocked for a moment. Christmas break was only a few months away and she had yet to find out who this girl really was. It was time to owl Lucius on any information he could find at the Ministry. Bellatrix was gonna check every pureblood family tree and book, to find out who the girl was. If she was confused as a mudblood then the sorting hat had been correct all along to have put the girl in the house she was supposed to be in.

She sent off an owl to Lucius and stalked her way toward the library. What few Death Eaters wandered the Manor during the day would stay out of her way. Bellatrix on a mission was suicide to intervene. She would find out who this witch was.

"I don't know why you think we could ever be friends Malfoy!" She rolled her eyes for the umpteenth time at the boy. He was really trying her nerves.

"Look Granger, I'm just trying to reconcile for how I treated you all those years! I've grown up, I'm no longer that boy! Can't you see that?" The blonde pleaded.

Hermione had noticed that Malfoy had changed. Gone was his usual mirth and trademark smirk. His arrogance had been at an all time low and he's even been civil towards her in the classes they shared. While she had noticed these changes of events, she couldn't help but wonder if he had ulterior motives to his current pleasantness. She looked at him silently. They were both currently huddled in a corner of the library as Draco tried to invite her to the Three Broomsticks for Butterbeer this weekend on the Hogsmeade Trip.

"What's in it for you?" She asked narrowing her eyes threateningly.

"For one, a friend and a cordial potions partner. But two, because I really do feel bad for the way I treated you." Draco told the brunette honestly.

"But what about all your beliefs on mudbloods?" She hated using that word to describe her but it's what half of her housemates still saw her as.

"Honestly?" Draco asked. Hermione nodded. "I still don't like mudbloods. But I'm willing to put that aside when it comes to you because you're in Slytherin. The hat is never wrong and I want to believe that it put you in this house for a reason. Maybe it's time Slytherin changed, don't you think? You know back in the day, Slytherin used to be just purebloods? Only a century ago did the sorting hat start to put halfbloods in our house."

Hermione's eyebrows shot up. This bit of information she did not know. But she guessed she wouldn't have found it in any Hogwarts History books. It remained the history of the house and that was that.

Draco of course wasn't gonna tell her the truth of about the prophecy but he wasn't going to lie either. He did feel bad for his actions as a young egotistical prat. He had learned to grow up fast because of the impending war. Next year he would receive the mark and while he was proud, he knew his mother was worried but they did what they had to, to protect family.

Hermione studied his face for any sign of deception. "Alright Malfoy, one butterbeer. Just you an me. I don't want your goons around."

"No problem." Draco smiled. In truth he had dumped Crabbe and Goyle months ago. He just found that they were too stupid to think situations through.

Hermione turned to leave the library before she stopped herself. She had to ask him one more question. "You're mortal enemies with my best friends. What are you going to do about that?"

Draco had been prepared for this question. He knew that the girl was quite close to Scar Head and Weasel. "I could tell you the truth about Potter."

"Elaborate."

Draco sighed. "Everyone thinks that just because he's the Chosen One, he can do no wrong and do no evil. He's the Golden Boy favored by our beloved Headmaster. But Potter has always made plenty of bad decisions that have gotten people hurt. Just last year he got Diggory killed! I might be an arrogant prat but at least I have my manners and my wits. He's a silly school boy that has been thrusted into eternal glory that won't even matter in the end. Destruction follows Potter everywhere like the damn plague. He's just as arrogant and as selfish as I am but everyone favors Gryffindor because of the rumors of how dark and evil Slytherin is. Just because some of the families in here follow the Dark Lord, doesn't mean that it reflects the house itself. Gryffindor? Blah! House of the courage, my ass. The actions Potter has taken to get to where he is now has all been out of fear."

Hermione winced at Draco calling him the Dark Lord but Draco had a point. Had Hermione really been so blind as to generalize all Slytherins as evil and the house itself, just as much? As much as she loved Harry and Ron, she took a step back to see a non-biased perspective. Draco was right, Hermione could see it. Harry and Ron had always been reckless and if it wasn't for her on their end of the year excursions, they would probably already be dead. Granted the last four years had been pure unluck for the boy with the basilisk and Triwizard Tournament. Draco could see the wheels turning in Hermione's head.

"But I love the both of them." Hermione said sadly. She realized at least half of what Draco was saying was true. Her two friends could be really daft. Ron especially.

"Hermione, you need to think of yourself. It's not selfish to take care of yourself once in a while, both mentally, physically and soulfully."

"Are you insinuating I don't shower?" Hermione feigned being hurt.

Draco snorted to stifle laughter. "Nothing of the sort, but hot baths due tend to relax muscles on constant edge."

Hermione cracked a smile. Maybe she hadn't given Draco enough credit. After all isn't he fighting for family too? She had hated the boy for too long and so far he had answered all her questions honestly. "Alright Draco," She said using his first name, "We can be friends."

Draco smiled fully. "Dinner shall we?" He said holding out his arm.

Hermione snorted and smacked his arm away. "We're not that close yet Draco. But I will sit with you tonight."

"That's all I could ever ask for." Draco replied.

The two made their way into the Great Hall in time for the food to start appearing on the table. Hermione felt like a burden had lifted from her chest when she sat with Draco and saw that some of the Slytherins didn't seem to mind her after all. And here she thought, for years they had all hated her. Maybe they hadn't isolated her, but she had done so to herself in fear of getting hurt. Regardless, the chicken had never tasted so juicy that night. Even though she loved her two Gryffindor idiots, it wouldn't hurt to have some friend from her own house. She needed to stop blaming her house and start blaming herself for missing out on all of this. Speaking with Pansy, she realized that Draco really wasn't lying. Slytherin was almost as studious as Ravenclaw. Most of them were getting high marks except if you were Crabbe or Goyle.

She felt a little hurt when she looked over to the Gryffindor table to see Ron seething. Apparently the red head did not take well to her seemingly closeness to Malfoy. Harry was just giving her a sad look. At least he understood what it's like to be alone and finally find friends. Maybe he wasn't mad because she was finally making friends that weren't in the other three houses. Either way she was grateful that Harry wasn't mad. Ron on the other hand, she shouldn't have ever made friends with him. She wouldn't have gotten anything out of their friendship except his inflated ego. Not to mention she knows he has a crush on her, and his ability to implement himself as alpha if there were ever a relationship was astounding. He was too quick to judge and never stepped back to rationalize any situation ever. She was glad they never went forward past friendship, if she was even friends with him anymore. She realized that Ron had never really been a great friend and was all but ready to leave her behind first year if it wasn't for the troll incident.

"Don't worry about them. They couldn't understand your level of superiority over them."

Hermione scoffed. "What makes you think I have superiority over them?"

"Your mind and your manners. Hermione if I knew you weren't sixteen I would peg you as a full grown witch who knew what she wanted. You think like an adult already when they're still stuck thinking like boys. By all means, I didn't mean superiority by blood. I meant to look at the way you carry yourself or how your marks are always higher than theirs and they never strive for better but you do. It looks like you should've been hanging with us from the start. At least we're more intellectually adequate than they are."

"You bullied me from the start. Remember?" Hermione frowned.

Draco winced, "Yes, which was an obvious mistake. But at least I've grown to learn that now."

Once again Draco had a point. Since when did she start having meaningful discussions with Draco? A couple days ago she hated him, but now he's changing her ways of seeing things. Would the boys be there for her if she needed them? She knew she would vice versa, but would they? Hermione knew the answer to her own question and it stung knowing they wouldn't. They wouldn't deem her important enough.

She sat the rest of the meal in silence as Draco talked with the table about the upcoming Quidditch game against Hufflepuff. She had never been interested in Quidditch and had never bothered to go to a game before, as she had hated her house. Now she was starting to rethink it. By the time the table had finished, the meal had caught up with Hermione and put her in a tired trance. She didn't know how she made it to bed, but she managed.

Minerva watched her favorite pupil leave the Great Hall after dinner. She had seen the interaction between Harry and Ron with her. She didn't like what she saw and worried the girl may go down the wrong path with her new guidance and friend, Draco. She would have to talk to Dumbledore. He would know what to do. They could not lose the girl risking the chance of losing the upcoming war.

Bellatrix swiftly made her way to the large dining hall the Manor had to offer. The Dark Lord had decided to stay for dinner once he smelled what Narcissa had been cooking with the elves. Most would frown upon a pureblood witch from doing anything such as housework but Lucius had always encouraged her wife to do more and be more adventurous like Bellatrix.

As she walked into the room the long table was already filled with fellow Death Eaters. She sat on the left side of her Dark Lord for this was dinner but it was also a meeting on the upcoming events.

"I hear you have news Bellatrix?" The Dark Lord asked.

"Yes my lord. We know the girl's name." Bellatrix said bowing her head in acknowledgement.

"And who would this girl be?"

"We received a letter from my nephew. The girl is Hermione Granger. Although I feel that might change with the information that Lucius has." The dark witch turned to her brother-in-law.

"Yes my lord." The blonde man spoke up. "I did some digging in the Ministry's archives and what I have found is most astounding, however, not surprising."

"Do not stall Lucius." Voldemort said sternly.

"Of course not my lord. Hermione Granger is really-," pulling out the actually birth certificate and handing over to his lord.

"-Rosier, Hermione Rosier." The Dark Lord finished. Lucius nodded. The Dark Lord turned. "That means she is related to you, Bellatrix. Have you found out the connection?"

"That is the second thing we looked into my lord once we knew of her last name. As you know our mother," She looked at Narcissa before continuing, "was Druella Rosier before she married our father. Apparently she had a half sister named Callidora. Though she was a half sister she was still pureblood. They shared the same father but a different mother. She was part of the Rosier and the Yaxley family."

"So Callidora is the daughter of Calvin Rosier and Silene Yaxley." Lucius butt in. "Then Callidora married to Corvus Lestrange III after her Aunt Minette Rosier married to Corvus Lestrange II."

"So she is related to you from the Rosier and Lestrange families." Voldemort laminated, deep in thought.

"Yes my lord." Bellatrix answered.

The Dark Lord frowned. "And what of her parents?"

"They died from a Ministry orchestrated Auror raid. Someone tipped to the Ministry that they had some dark artifacts that was recovered from some distant family members in France, where the Rosier family originated. No doubt it was probably the Order when they were trying to wipe us out so you wouldn't gain any followers before the Potter incident."

"And how come it never appeared on you family tree?" Voldemort wondered aloud.

"That is what we're still trying to figure out, my lord. But it is strong magic. Someone did not want us to find out. Mother would've known but the Order probably already knew she was dead at the time. They went to great lengths to hide this girl." Bellatrix finished.

"Very well. You are still to do as we originally planned." Turning to Narcissa he addressed her. "I want her here for Christmas Break. Tell Draco to make sure it happens."

Narcissa nodded turning paler than she usually was. With that confirmation the Dark Lord excused everyone and he, himself retired to Riddle-Gaunt Manor.

Bellatrix was in her room pacing the second dinner was over. The Dark Lord was right. The girl would need to stay for Christmas if they were to establish any kind of bond. And once that bond was established they would be an unstoppable force in the war. She was debating to send Draco a letter. He would have to speed things along but do so wisely without the girl thinking he was plotting something.

Bellatrix turned when the door opened. She rarely saw Narcissa cry but her little sister was scared for her son. He had been tasked with a big burden.

Author's End Note: So you finally know her heritage! And that is why it's technically incest which was my warning in the summary. I'm sorry this chapter was longer than intended (3,000+ words) but at least it gave you readers a little something extra! Don't forget to leave reviews and follow the story! ~1stSoulVamp